Shaft linkage for linking and driving at least two drivetrains of a vessel

Abstract

A linking drive system comprises a first drive shaft of the first drivetrain connected between a first prime mover and a first propulsor. The linking drive system comprises a second drive shaft of the second drivetrain connected between a second prime mover and a second propulsor. The linking drive system further comprises a linking drive clutch, which comprises at least a first clutch part and a second clutch part. The first clutch part and the second clutch part are engageable with each other and can transmit rotation therebetween. At least one flexible drive link is coupled between the linking drive clutch and the first and/or second drive shafts. Rotation from one of the first and second drive shafts is transferred to the other of the first and second drive shafts when the linking drive clutch is engaged thereby linking the first and second drivetrains.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A linking drive system for coupling together a first drivetrain and a second drivetrain of a vessel, the linking drive system comprising:
 the first drivetrain connecting a first prime mover and a first propulsor, the first drivetrain comprising a first drive shaft; 
 the second drivetrain connecting a second prime mover and a second propulsor, the second drivetrain comprising a second drive shaft; 
 a linking drive clutch, the linking drive clutch comprising at least a first clutch part and a second clutch part which are engageable with each other and can transmit rotation therebetween; 
 at least one flexible drive link separate from the first and second drivetrains, the at least one flexible drive link coupled between the linking drive clutch and the first and/or second drive trains, wherein the at least one flexible drive link is coupled between the linking drive clutch and the first and/or second drive shafts; 
 wherein the linking drive clutch is engageable to allow rotation of one of the first and second drive shafts, generated by a respective one of the first and second prime movers, to be transferred to the other of the first and second drive shafts, and 
 wherein the at least one flexible drive link comprises:
 at least a first flexible drive link, the first flexible drive link being coupled between the first drive shaft and the first clutch part of the linking drive clutch; and 
 at least a second flexible drive link coupled between the second drive shaft and the second clutch part of the linking drive clutch. 
 
 
     
     
       2. A linking drive system according to  claim 1 , wherein the linking drive system comprises a chain drive or a belt drive. 
     
     
       3. A linking drive system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least first and second flexible drive links are coupled to the first and second drive shafts on a prime mover side of a main drive clutch. 
     
     
       4. A linking drive system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least first and second flexible drive links are coupled to the first and second drive shafts on a propeller side of a main drive clutch. 
     
     
       5. A linking drive system according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least first and second flexible drive links are coupled to the first and second drive shafts on a linking drive clutch side of a hydraulic pump of the propulsor such that the hydraulic pump can operate a slew of the propulsor when the linking drive clutch is engaged. 
     
     
       6. A linking drive system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a linking drive clutch controller configured to control the engagement of the first clutch part and the second clutch part. 
     
     
       7. A linking drive system according to  claim 6 , further comprising a sensor for detecting a rotation of at least one of the first and second drive shafts, the first and second flexible drive links or the first clutch part and the second clutch part. 
     
     
       8. A linking drive system according to  claim 7 , wherein the linking drive clutch controller is configured to activate the engagement of the first clutch part and the second clutch part when there is no relative rotation, or below a pre-defined threshold rotation. 
     
     
       9. A linking drive system according to  claim 1 , wherein the linking drive clutch is an electromagnetic clutch. 
     
     
       10. A linking drive system according to  claim 1 , wherein the linking drive system is a chain drive system and the chain drive system comprises at least a first sprocket and a second sprocket, wherein the first sprocket is coupled to the first drive shaft and the second sprocket is coupled to the second drive shaft, and the at least first and the at least second flexible drive links are chains. 
     
     
       11. A linking drive system according to  claim 10 , wherein the chains are each enclosed in a chain box. 
     
     
       12. A linking drive system according to  claim 11 , wherein the chain box comprises a reservoir or a spraying device for lubricating the chains. 
     
     
       13. A linking drive system according to  claim 10 , further comprising at least one diverter sprocket, the diverter sprocket is arranged such that the direction of at least a portion of the chain drive system is diverted. 
     
     
       14. A vessel comprising a drive system for coupling together a first drivetrain and a second drivetrain of the vessel, the drive system comprising:
 the first drivetrain connecting a first prime mover and a first propulsor, the first drivetrain comprising a first drive shaft; 
 the second drivetrain connecting a second prime mover and a second propulsor, the second drivetrain comprising a second drive shaft; 
 a linking drive clutch, the linking drive clutch comprising at least a first clutch part and a second clutch part which are engageable with each other and can transmit rotation therebetween; 
 at least one flexible drive link separate from the first and second drivetrains, the at least one flexible drive link coupled between the linking drive clutch and the first and/or second drive trains, wherein the at least one flexible drive link is coupled between the linking drive clutch and the first and/or second drive shafts; 
 wherein the linking drive clutch is engageable to allow rotation of one of the first and second drive shafts, generated by a respective one of the first and second prime movers, to be transferred to the other of the first and second drive shafts, and 
 wherein the at least one flexible drive link comprises:
 at least a first flexible drive link, the first flexible drive link being coupled between the first drive shaft and the first clutch part of the linking drive clutch; and 
 at least a second flexible drive link coupled between the second drive shaft and the second clutch part of the linking drive clutch. 
 
 
     
     
       15. A vessel according to  claim 14  wherein the vessel is a tugboat. 
     
     
       16. A linking drive kit mountable on a vessel drive system for coupling together a first drivetrain and a second drivetrain of a vessel, the linking drive kit comprising:
 a linking drive clutch, the linking drive clutch comprises at least a first clutch part and a second clutch part which are engageable with each other and can transmit rotation therebetween; 
 at least a first chain separate from the first and second drivetrains, the first chain coupled between the first drive train and the first clutch, wherein the first chain is coupled between a first drive shaft of the first drivetrain and the first clutch part of the linking drive clutch, the first drivetrain connecting a first prime mover and a first propulsor; and 
 at least a second chain separate from the first and second drivetrains, the second chain coupled between the second drivetrain and the second clutch part, wherein the second chain is coupled between a second drive shaft of the second drivetrain and the second clutch part of the linking drive clutch, the second drivetrain connecting a second prime mover and a second propulsor; 
 wherein the linking drive clutch is engageable to allow the rotation of one of the first and second drive shafts, generated by a respective one of the first and second prime movers, to be transferred to the other of the first and second drive shafts.